In the current climate of professional wrestling (or sports entertainment), free agency has become a new idea to many in the industry. A few years ago, wrestlers did not have many options to work after the closings of World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling. However, new independent entities have come up in forms of Ring of Honor and others that have become springboards into the big-time known as the WWE, and the latest wrestler to go through free agency is Adam Cole.
The 27-year-old from Pennsylvania is a three-time Ring of Honor Champion (first man to hold the title three times) and the 2010 Wrestling Observer Rookie of the Year. 2016 and the early months of 2017 saw him wrestle in New Japan Pro Wrestling, in addition to ROH, and headline shows with the popular Bullet Club faction. With all of that, it was only a matter of time before the WWE came calling. On May 1, his ROH contract expired and he is now fielding offers from around the world.
Double G Sports’ lead wrestling writer Daniel Yanofsky believes Cole will be successful wherever he goes. “I could see him thrive in NXT, and maybe get a small push in WWE,” said Yanofsky. “If he is looking to challenge himself, expect Cole to head to the Land of the Rising Sun and tear the house in NJPW.”
Cole has a few options which makes this free agent period for him very interesting. NXT has been the talk of the wrestling world for the last couple of years, but many believe that their best days are behind them after the departure of stars like Samoa Joe, Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura. Adding Cole to a mix of Bobby Roode, Kassius Ohno and Drew McIntyre could be what gives NXT that shot in the arm it needs to begin its new era. While NXT is good, the main roster of the WWE is the wildcard.
There are many examples of the Vince McMahon messing with characters from NXT and botching their careers (see Tyler Breeze, The Ascension). With someone like Adam Cole, you have a main event star who has to be treated like one. That means Cole not losing to Darren Young on WWE Main Event to see how Cole reacts to losing backstage. History tells us that McMahon can be clueless when it comes to decisions (i.e. Jinder Mahal as WWE Champion) but Adam Cole is, in Jim Ross’ words, “blue-chip right there.”
New Japan Pro Wrestling is an interesting option for Cole. With injuries to Katsuyori Shibata and Hiroshi Tanahashi, Cole would slide into a major spot for NJPW. Wrestling in Japan is very different than in the U.S. as they work a lot more hard-hitting style, but Cole has worked there in the past and knows what to expect if he was to go there full-time. Keep this in mind also, I’m pretty sure he would make money going over to Japan as opposed to going to the WWE.
The other option, that is popular after the success of Cody Rhodes, is to work for New Japan and many different American independent promotions. That way Cole could make his own schedule and choose where and when he works.
Adam Cole is one of the biggest wrestling free agents in recent memory. Whatever decision he makes will be a good one for him. Whoever ends up with Cole will have picked up an amazing building block for the future. The question remains however: Will Adam Cole go to the WWE and fulfill a dream? Will he take on a new challenge in Japan? Or will he go the road less traveled and be his own boss in the wrestling industry?
We are eagerly awaiting his decision.
